Admissions & Aid

Financial Aid

All admitted students are eligible to apply for AMBS financial aid. Aid is distributed according to demonstrated financial need, with higher amounts of aid given to students with greater need.

Note: Need-based financial aid is still available for incoming students.

Full-time students

Students affiliated with Mennonite World Conference congregations or related Anabaptist groups and international students studying full time (at least nine credit hours per semester) or considered "at pace" (at least 12 credit hours per academic year for MDiv Connect students) are eligible for AMBS need-based financial aid of up to 50 percent of tuition. Other full-time students qualify for financial aid of up to 30 percent of tuition. Visit the Scholarships page for more information.

Full-time, admitted students may also receive dollar-for-dollar matching grants of up to $1,000 per year from their congregation or regional church/area conference ($500 per term; maximum of two terms). AMBS financial aid, including matching grants, will not exceed the cost of a student's tuition for the semester. Find out more by downloading and completing a Church Partnership Form (PDF: 2018–19).

Part-time students

Admitted students taking fewer than nine hours per semester (or MDiv Connect students taking less than 12 credit hours per academic year) receive half the amount of financial aid they would if they were full-time students. They should download and complete a Church Partnership Form (PDF: 2018–19) to determine whether they are eligible to receive a 25-percent matching grant up to a maximum of $125 per term for a maximum of two terms.

MDiv Connect students

MDiv Connect students taking at least 12 credit hours within one academic year will be deemed “at pace” and considered to be full time for AMBS need-based financial aid purposes. Students will be required to enroll for the whole academic year at the beginning of Semester One (following consultation with their academic advisor). Intended-pace financial aid can be applied for a maximum of six academic years.

If at any point during an academic year, an MDiv Connect student lowers his or her registration below 12 credit hours for the year, his or her financial aid award amount will be adjusted to the lesser part-time rate for all classes beginning that semester and continuing through the rest of that academic year as well as the following academic year. If, during that second academic year, the student resumes being “at pace,” the part-time rate will still apply, but he or she will be eligible to receive the full-time financial aid rate for the following academic year (provided he or she stays “at pace”).

Intensive Term courses

Students get the same level of aid for Intensive Term courses that they receive during the previous semester.

Student responsibilities

Apply for aid each year using the Financial Aid Application.(Note: Prospective students have until April 15 to apply for financial aid. If they are admitted after April 15, their financial aid application is due 30 days after their admission date. Returning students must turn in their financial aid applications by April 15 each year for the following academic year.)

Maintain a satisfactory academic standard (minimum GPA of 2.5)

Write notes or letters of appreciation to the donors of the funds if requested to do so. AMBS financial aid comes from a variety of sources, including gifts from churches and individual donors. Acknowledging their generosity helps ensure good relations with our supporters and builds good will toward the seminary.

Effects of financial aid on U.S. Income Tax

The U.S. Internal Revenue Code states that individuals who are candidates for a degree may exclude scholarship income from their gross income. This is true as long as the amount excluded does not exceed the cost of tuition, fees, books and supplies required for the student's course of study. Any payment for which services are required is taxable. This could include student assistantships and on-campus jobs. (Ref: TITLE 26, Subtitle A, CHAPTER 1, Subchapter B, PART III, Sec. 117). Students should consult their tax advisors for details.